Jharkhand governor’s DA hike decision under EC scanner

Ranchi, March 28 (IANS) The Election Commission (EC) Saturday said it would look into the Jharkhand governor’s decision to hike government employees’ dearness allowance (DA) after the model code of conduct came into operation. “The Election Commission’s permission should have been taken by the government before taking such a decision. We will look into the issue,” Election Commissioner S.Y. Qureshi told reporters.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Wednesday sought action against Governor Syed Sibte Razi, accusing him of violating the model code of conduct by giving six percent hike in the DA of state government employees. The order by the advisory committee of the governor came after notification for the first phase of elections was issued by President Pratibha Patil.

Chief Electoral Officer Debashish Gupta said, “No prior permission was sought by the state government regarding hiking the DA of the state government employees. We will seek clarification from the Governor House on the issue.”

Qureshi was here to review the election preparedness of the state, where voting for will take place.

Jharkhand has been placed under president’s rule since Feb 26 following the political flux in the wake of then chief minister Shibu Soren failing to win a by-election to the state legislature.